lidar

American  

[lahy-dahr] / ˈlaɪ dɑr /

Or LIDAR

noun

Electronics, Optics.

1. a device similar to radar in principle and operation but using infrared laser light instead of radio waves and capable of detecting particles, distant objects, and varying physical conditions in the atmosphere.

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lidar Scientific  

/ lī′där /

1. A method of detecting distant objects and determining their position, velocity, or other characteristics by analysis of pulsed laser light reflected from their surfaces. Lidar operates on the same principles as radar and sonar.

2. The equipment used in such detection.

3. See also Doppler effect radar sonar

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Etymology

Origin of lidar

1960–65; li(ght ¹ ) + (ra)dar

Example Sentences

Stellantis and Nissan are both developing robotaxis using Wayve’s AI driver that include lidar in the sensor suite.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 28, 2026

Wayve, like Tesla, says its technology can do without the expensive laser-based lidar units that most of their peers rely on.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 28, 2026

The company employs fewer than 50 people and relies on technology similar to what’s used in self-driving cars, including radar, lidar and cameras that provide a 360-degree view around the vehicle.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 21, 2026

They also analyze detailed lidar images that can penetrate dense forest cover and expose scarps left behind by ancient earthquakes.

From Science Daily • May 19, 2026

There are many other important active sensor classes, three of which are active acoustics, lidar and magnetic anomaly detectors.

From Shock and Awe — Achieving Rapid Dominance by Wade, James P.